Land official files case against BNP’s sand diggers and land grabbers

❐ District Corespondent

A case has been filed against 18 BNP leaders and activists on charges of illegally extracting sand and encroaching on government land in the Sonagazi section of the Feni River and Muhuri River.

Md. Belayet Hossain, the acting assistant land officer of the Amirabad Union Land Office, filed the case with the police station, naming 18 people as the plaintiff.

Bayezid Akon, officer-in-charge of Sonagazi Model Police Station, said that the FIR was filed at 10 pm on Wednesday, September 3.

According to the complaint, from August 14 to 29, an organized group illegally used dredging machines to extract sand and soil from the banks of the Bara Feni River in Raghunathpur and Mobarakghona in Nawabpur Union and set up a fish project by occupying government land. This has created a risk of river bank erosion and homes being submerged in the riverbed.

On the other hand, from August 9 to 30, another group from Kalmir Char in Sonapur area of ​​Amirabad Union used a Vekku machine to cut government land and excavate soil, change the land category, and establish fish projects.

According to the complaint, the accused have violated the Sand and Soil Management Act, 2010 (Amendment 2023); Land Crime Prevention and Remedies Act, 2023 and the Environment Protection Act, 1995. Despite the administration conducting joint operations in this regard several times, the accused are again continuing their illegal sand mining and encroachment on government land.

The accused in the case are: Amirabad Union BNP General Secretary Nuruzzaman, District Jubo Dal Vice President Mohiuddin Mohim, Amirabad Union BNP leader Nur Alam, Nizam Uddin, Mirsarai BNP leader Sheikh Farid Member, District Chhatra Dal member Shariful Islam Rana Munshi, District Jubo Dal convening committee members Mohammad Masud, Aziz Member, Shahjahan Saju, Haque Sahab, Chhatra Dal leader Nur Alam Shamim, Masud, Jubo Dal leader Haider Ali Masud, Ripon, Raju, Milan Bhuiyan and Upazila Fishermen’s Party member secretary Abdul Awal Sajib.

In this regard, Sonagazi Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Bayezid Akon said, “A case was filed at the police station on Wednesday regarding this incident. Necessary legal action will be taken against those involved.”

Upazila Executive Officer Rigyan Chakma said, “Sand and fish enclosures were seized during an on-site raid. Some people were warned. Even then, cases were filed after verifying those who were mining sand and encroaching on private land.”